Many foods can hinder sleep. Spicy foods and some medications may cause heartburn. Foods with lactose may cause abdominal cramping. Products containing caffeine make it hard to fall asleep and cause sleep to be fragmented.
People who take a cholesterol-lowering statin are more likely to report muscle strains and sprains.
Knowing six numbers-your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference-can help you control risk factors for heart disease.
Even modest amounts of red meat increase the risk for developing heart disease, colon cancer, and diabetes. Red meat should be an occasional food, no more than two servings a week, with a serving size between 1.5 and 3 ounces.
High blood pressure (hypertension) affects 1 in 3 Americans, and doubles their risk of heart disease. More than 75% of people with hypertension also have high “bad” LDL cholesterol.
Annual doctor visits should not be skipped. It’s a good time to discuss new and bothersome symptoms, which may reveal a previously undiagnosed chronic disease, and to get annual screenings for diseases.
Alcohol can affect blood levels of beta blockers. If you drink alcohol in the evening and need a beta blocker, it’s a good idea to take a once-daily beta blocker in the morning to avoid this effect.
Autumn is a good time to review vaccination histories. A flu shot is recommended annually. Shots for pneumonia, tetanus, and shingles may also be in order.
It appears people with stroke-like symptoms are more likely to develop cognitive problems than people who do not have stroke symptoms.
Many of the risk factors for heart disease are also risk factors for vascular cognitive impairment, which can lead to dementia. Controlling these risk factors can delay or prevent this kind of mental decline.